Pope Francis apologises for losing his temper

(Patria) - At his first Mass of 2020, Pope Francis today condemned violence against women as an "insult" to God and the exploitation of their bodies through "consumerism" and "pornography". 

"Women are the source of life. Yet, they are constantly insulted, beaten, subjected to violence and forced into prostitution and the termination of the life they carry within them," the head of the Catholic Church assessed today in a homily he delivered at St. Peter's Basilica.

As reported by Index.hr, the Pope said this at Mass a day after he struck a female pilgrim on the hand in the Vatican, who had grabbed his arm and refused to let go.

Today, the French Press news agency reports, the Pope himself commented on the incident.

"We often lose patience, it happens to me too. I apologise for the bad example I gave yesterday," the Pope said today before Mass in the Vatican. 

From the Vatican Press Office, as Index.hr reports, there was no comment on the event in response to a query from France Presse. The Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, on 1 January.